ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 58359
Last updated: 22 May 2013
This information is added by users of ASN. ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | 07-JUL-1955 |
| Time: | Approx 15:00 |
| Type: |  Hawker Hunter F4 |
| Operator: | 247 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | WT762 |
| C/n / msn: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Fleet, Hampshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Farnborough, Hampshire [FAB/EGUF] |
Engine cut shortly after take off from Farnborough for air display and the aircraft crashed near Fleet, Hampshire (between Dinorben Avenue and the Basingstoke canal). Pilot ejected too low at 300 ft - was killed.
Eyewitness report:
"I was 5 years old & playing in my grandmother's garden in Fleet. The Hunter came along the line of the houses maybe 100 ft over my head & hit the trees at the end. I looked up & saw its profile as it parted my hair. I remember the deafening noise & the fireball. It is possible that the pilot was aiming for the woods at the end of the lane & saw the houses at the last minute. The main impact was in what is now Dinorben Avenue. The engine carried on & hit a racing stable on the far side of the wood. There was a large crater & we were picking up pieces of it for years. Very sad. Nearly the end of me before I even started. I have an idea the pilot's name was Fletcher ? He acted heroically. I do not know the cause, the Hunter was obviously well fuelled because the smell of it lingered for years. I believe early Hunters were notorious for flame-outs ?"
Sources:
Eyewitness: Peter.Andrew@BTinternet.com
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/project/year_pages/1955.htm
http://www.ukserials.com/results.php?serial=WT
http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/hancrash.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jan-2009 11:55 | ASN archive | Added |
| 16-Jun-2010 20:59 | P Cooper | Updated [Time, Total occupants, Total fatalities, Location] |
| 22-Oct-2011 13:30 | 86.179.119.200 | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Dec-2011 13:55 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 15-Aug-2012 08:10 | Nepa | Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description